EDITORIAL: Obama calls for reducing gun violence

President Barack Obama has belatedly revived the push for stronger gun control legislation.

With relatives of some of the 20 Newtown, Conn. children killed in the Sandy Hook elementary school insanity looking on, Obama signed 23 executive actions not requiring congressional approval to strengthen gun laws, make changes in mental health evaluations and improve school safety.

But his call for Congress to revive an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, restrict ammunition clips to hold no more than 10 rounds, and to vastly expand the background check system for would-be gun purchasers faces a difficult road.

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What's sad about the knee-jerk opposition from gun-rights advocates and some legislators is that the president's proposals, which make good on his pledge last month after Sandy Hook, are modest.

Nothing in the actions he took nor the legislation he proposes does anything about the proliferation of guns in America, especially handguns.

Nothing, looked at dispassionately, truly infringes on anyone's right to bear arms or to defend themselves against criminals.

At the same time, gun-related legislation has become hopelessly muddled. For instance, defining an assault weapon -- most gun violence involves handguns -- becomes a tortured exercise in technical terms and standards.

Improving background checks to cover all gun sales, no matter where they take place or from whom, sounds like a no-brainer.

But the reality is that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, used by federally licensed firearms dealers to check the credentials of potential gun purchasers, has proved ineffective and spotty, according to researchers analyzing background check data.

Obama's proposal would improve reporting. Many states, for instance, fail to do the minimum in providing data for background checks. Fourteen states list fewer than five people who are barred from gun ownership due to mental health issues.

Many people remain unconvinced, though. Even in a politically liberal community such as Santa Cruz County, the topic of restricting guns frays nerves and ratchets up rhetoric.

The debate at the county Board of Supervisors meeting over setting a temporary moratorium on new gun shops brought out a big crowd and 27 people who addressed supervisors, pro and con.

Obama not only has to get votes from reluctant members of Congress in his own party, but also has to deal with Republicans who won't support him on just about anything.

One Republican congressman already has suggested Obama be impeached for an unconstitutional attack on Second Amendment rights.

Republicans need to realize they were soundly beaten in the last election and that people are waiting to see if the party can start showing more moderation and flexibility.

The president, who has shown a puzzling reluctance to do more than give speeches for his proposals, needs to press his case to Americans that his proposals are reasonable and necessary. He should consider enlisting law enforcement in this campaign, because emotional appeals will inevitably fade.

We've previously noted that Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat in a state with a strong gun-rights movement, has been a voice of reason on guns in a state where the Columbine and Aurora massacres took place.

Hickenlooper's administration has developed a plan that would do a much better job of identifying and helping people with mental disorders who might be a threat to others, or to themselves.

Elected leaders should summon the will and courage to reduce gun violence by embracing Obama's call for universal background checks -- and adopt Hickenlooper's plan to bring more resources and mandated reforms for the mental health system.